Defense asked DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur to suppress evidence after police interrogated a shooting defendant in bed on April 20.
Christopher Warren, 43, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of an unregistered firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and two counts of destruction of property for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on the 1800 block of Q Street SE, on Aug. 20, 2024. The victim sustained gunshot wounds to his right arm with bone fractures to his shoulder and the right side of his neck.
During the hearing, parties discussed motions to suppress evidence that the defense believes was obtained illegally and in violation of Warren’s Fourth and Fifth Amendments which protect against unwarranted seizures and self-incrimination.
Warren’s attorney, Emma Mlyniec, stated the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) obtained a rifle, magazines, and other key pieces of evidence from Warren’s bedroom without a warrant or the homeowner’s consent. Mlyniec also claimed the evidence was illegally seized and was used to justify a separate warrant to collect more evidence.
Mlyniec stated that this request only gave police permission to talk to Warren, not to enter his residence. According to Mlyniec, upon entering his room and waking up Warren, they interrogated him without reading him his Miranda rights, and noticed ammunitions magazines in plain view in the bedroom, which they claimed as evidence in the investigation.
Later that day, Mlyniec stated an MPD detective re-entered Warren’s room to retrieve his inhaler when he noticed a rifle in Warren’s closet.
Mlyniec argued that the rifle, magazines, and other pieces of evidence collected within Warren’s bedroom should be suppressed because they were taken without a warrant, and that any information Warren gave MPD while in his bedroom should be suppressed since he was not read his Miranda rights while in police custody.
Prosecutors claimed that MPD was given permission to enter Warren’s bedroom by his mother. According to the prosecution, police asked Warren’s mother if they could “go back there and talk with him,” a request she approved.
Judge Arthur will rule on the motion when parties reconvene on May 5.
